Resources for Pregnant and Parenting Students

You are not alone. Help is available at Cal State East Bay

Pregnant or Parenting?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities. 

We are proud to serve a diverse student body and offer a learning environment that is welcoming, accessible, and supportive to everyone. This inclusiveness derives from our commitment to all students, including those who are pregnant and parenting.

 

Accommodations for Pregnancy and Childbirth

As needed, Cal State East Bay must provide accommodations to pregnant students and those recovering from childbirth. These accommodations can take several forms, including: excusing absences, providing reasonable adjustments to the regular program, allowing students to make up missed work, and allowing students to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as they had before any pregnancy or birth-related absence began.

Cal State East Bay must also make reasonable modifications to policies, practices or procedures; and must provide adjustments, aids, and services to students with disabling conditions, including conditions arising from pregnancy or recovery from childbirth.

 

Accessibility Services Counselors

Students in need of pregnancy or birth-related accommodations, modifications, adjustments, aids, or services are encouraged to reach out to Accessibility Services as soon as possible. From there, Accessibility Services staff members will set up a meeting to determine accommodation needs with Accessibility Services counselors. Together, students and counselors work closely to implement accommodations and achieve equal access.

For accommodations related to pregnancy and birth-related accommodations please contact:

Accessibility Services
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542

Office: Library 2400
Email: as@csueastbay.edu
Phone: (510) 885-3868


Students alleging discrimination or retaliation should reach out to the University’s Title IX Office:

Title IX Coordinator
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542

Office: Student Services & Administration 1600
Email: equityinvestigations@csueastbay.edu 
Phone: (510) 885-4918

Know your Rights

Your School Must

  • Allow you to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities even though you are pregnant. This means that you can still participate in advanced placement and honors classes, school clubs, sports, honor societies, student leadership opportunities, and other activities, like after-school programs operated at the school.
  • Allow you to choose whether you want to participate in special instructional programs or classes for pregnant students. You can participate if you want to, but your school cannot pressure you to do so. The alternative program must provide the same types of academic, extracurricular and enrichment opportunities as your school’s regular program.
  • Allow you to participate in classes and extracurricular activities even though you are pregnant and not require you to submit a doctor’s note unless your school requires a doctor’s note from all students who have a physical or emotional condition requiring treatment by a doctor. Your school also must not require a doctor’s note from you after you have been hospitalized for childbirthunless it requires a doctor’s note from all students who have been hospitalized for other conditions.
  • Provide you with reasonable adjustments, like a larger desk, elevator access, or allowing you to make frequent trips to the restroom, when necessary because of your pregnancy.

Your School Must

  • Excuse absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says it is necessary.
  • Allow you to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before your medical leave began, which should include giving you the opportunity to make up any work missed while you were out.
  • Ensure that teachers understand the Title IX requirements related to excused absences/medical leave. Your teacher may not refuse to allow you to submit work after a deadline you missed because of pregnancy or childbirth. If your teacher’s grading is based in part on class participation or attendance and you missed class because of pregnancy or childbirth, you should be allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits you didn’t have the chance to earn.
  • Provide pregnant students with the same special services it provides to students with temporary medical conditions. This includes homebound instruction/at-home tutoring/independent study.

Your School Must

Protect you from harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions. Comments that could constitute prohibited harassment include making sexual comments or jokes about your pregnancy, calling you sexually charged names, spreading rumors about your sexual activity, and making sexual propositions or gestures, if the comments are sufficiently serious that it interferes with your ability to benefit from or participate in your school’s program.

  • Ask your school for help—meet with your school’s Title IX Coordinator or counselor regarding what your school can do to support you in continuing your education.
  • Keep notes about your pregnancy-related absences, any instances of harassment and your interactions with school officials about your pregnancy, and immediately report problems to your school’s Title IX Coordinator, counselor, or other staff.
  • If you feel your school is discriminating against you because you are pregnant or parenting you may file a complaint:
    • Using your school’s internal Title IX grievance procedures.
    • With the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), even if you have not filed a complaint with your school. If you file with OCR, make sure you do so within 180 days of when the discrimination took place.
    • In court, even if you have not filed a complaint with your school or with OCR.
  • Contact OCR if you have any questions. We are here to help make sure all students, including pregnant and parenting students, have equal educational opportunities!

Resources and Relevant Publications 

Contact Us

Title IX/DHR Office

25800 Carlos Bee Blvd
Student Administration, SA 1109
Hayward, CA 94542

Phone: (510) 885-4918
Email: equityinvestigations@csueastbay.edu
Website: Title IX

Terri La Beaux
Title IX Coordinator
Phone: (510) 885-4918
Email: terri.labeaux@csueastbay.edu

Ellen G. Maloney Ruhe
Office Support Title IX & DHR
Phone: (510) 885-2788
Email: ellen.maloneyruhe@csueastbay.edu

JoLani Hironaka
DHR Administrator
Phone: (510) 885-2237
Email: jolani.hironaka@csueastbay.edu